What Will You Study
Lancaster’s combined Philosophy and Religious Studies degree gives you the opportunity to benefit from world-class resources and tutors. Lancaster is home to ten philosophers, with a wide range of research interests and expertise and our Religious Studies programme continues to be a leader in terms of quality teaching and innovative research.
You’ll divide your time equally between Philosophy and Religious Studies, gaining a solid grounding in both subjects. You’ll start with modules including Introduction to Philosophy, Religions of the Modern World and Ethics, Philosophy and Religion. In the second and third year you choose from a wide range of modules including: Philosophy of Science; Epistemology, Ethics, Philosophy of Mind, Continental Philosophy; Religion and Violence; Media, Religion and Politics; Indian Religious and Philosophical Thought; New Religions and Alternative Spiritualities; Reading Buddhism; Reading Islam; Religion and Politics; Religion in Schools.
Related Courses
- Economics and International Relations : BA Hons
- Economics and Politics : BA Hons
- English Literature and Philosophy : BA Hons
- English Literature and Philosophy (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- English Literature and Religious Studies : BA Hons
- English Literature and Religious Studies (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Ethics, Philosophy and Religion : BA Hons
- Ethics, Philosophy and Religion (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Film and Philosophy : BA Hons
- Film and Philosophy (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- French Studies and Philosophy : BA Hons
- French Studies and Politics : BA Hons
- German Studies and Philosophy : BA Hons
- German Studies and Politics : BA Hons
- History and International Relations : BA Hons
- History and International Relations (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- History and Philosophy : BA Hons
- History and Philosophy (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- History and Politics : BA Hons
- History and Politics (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- History and Religious Studies : BA Hons
- History and Religious Studies (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- History, Philosophy and Politics : BA Hons
- History, Philosophy and Politics (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- International Relations : BA Hons
- International Relations (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- International Relations and Religious Diversity : BA Hons
- International Relations and Religious Diversity (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Law with Politics : LLB Hons
- Linguistics and Philosophy : BA Hons
- Linguistics and Philosophy (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Management, Politics and International Relations (Industry) : BSc Hons
- Mathematics and Philosophy : BA Hons
- Peace Studies and International Relations : BA Hons
- Peace Studies and International Relations (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Philosophy : BA Hons
- Philosophy (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Philosophy and Politics : BA Hons
- Philosophy and Politics (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Philosophy and Religious Studies (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Philosophy with Chinese : BA Hons
- Philosophy with Chinese (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Philosophy, Politics and Economics : BA Hons
- Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Politics : BA Hons
- Politics (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Politics (Study Abroad) : BA Hons
- Politics and International Relations : BA Hons
- Politics and International Relations (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Politics and Religious Studies : BA Hons
- Politics and Religious Studies (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Politics and Sociology : BA Hons
- Politics and Sociology (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Politics with Chinese : BA Hons
- Politics with Chinese (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Politics, International Relations and Management : BSc Hons
- Religious Studies : BA Hons
- Religious Studies (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Religious Studies and Sociology : BA Hons
- Religious Studies and Sociology (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Religious Studies with Chinese : BA Hons
- Religious Studies with Chinese (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies and Philosophy : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies and Politics : BA Hons
Modules
Many of Lancaster's degree programmes are flexible, offering students the opportunity to cover a wide selection of subject areas to complement their main specialism. You will be able to study a range of modules, some examples of which are listed below.
Year 1
- Buddhism and Modernity in Asian Societies
- Christianity in the Modern World: Traditions and Transformations
- Epistemology
- Hinduism in the Modern World
- Islam: Tradition, Community and Contemporary Challenges
- Metaphysics
- Philosophical Questions in the Study of Politics and Economics
- Philosophy of Science
- Aesthetics
- Continental Philosophy
- Dissertation
- History of Twentieth Century Philosophy
- Indian Religious and Philosophical Thought
- Media, Religion and Politics
- Reading Buddhism
- Reading Islam
- Religion and politics
- Religion in schools
- The Ritual and Social Contexts of Spirit Possession
Core
Year 2
Optional
Year 3
Optional
Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and others which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme. We divide academic study into two sections - Part 1 (Year 1) and Part 2 (Year 2, 3 and sometimes 4). For most programmes Part 1 requires you to study 120 credits spread over at least three modules which, depending upon your programme, will be drawn from one, two or three different academic subjects. A higher degree of specialisation then develops in subsequent years. For more information about our teaching methods at Lancaster visit our Teaching and Learning section.
Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, but changes may be necessary, for example as a result of student feedback, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes, and new research.
Entry Criteria
Grade Requirements
A Level ABB
IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component. For other English language qualifications we accept, please see our English language requirements webpages.
Other Qualifications
International Baccalaureate 32 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects.
BTEC Distinction, Distinction, Merit
We welcome applications from students with a range of alternative UK and international qualifications, including combinations of qualification. Further guidance on admission to the University, including other qualifications that we accept, frequently asked questions and information on applying, can be found on our general admissions webpages.
Contact Admissions Team + 44 (0) 1524 592028 or via ugadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk
Careers
The skills and knowledge developed during your degree programme make it possible for you to follow many careers. In increasingly multicultural societies and an integrated world, graduates with an understanding of other faiths, cultures and values are highly regarded. Your philosophical training and communications skills also transfer well to the workplace, where conclusions based on careful assessment of arguments are valued.
Lancaster’s Philosophy and Religious Studies graduates have chosen a wide range of careers, including roles in the Civil Service, journalism, banking, the police and business, as well as teaching and the caring professions.
Some alumni also pursue further study through a postgraduate degree at Lancaster and other institutions.
Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring you not only gain a highly reputable degree, but that you also graduate with relevant life and work based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which offers you the opportunity to complete key activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development. Visit our Employability section for full details.Studying
Teaching and Learning Methods
At Lancaster we offer a broad range of learning environments designed to best support the requirements of your chosen degree programme. These may include lecture and tutorials, interactive workshops, laboratory sessions, other practical activities, student-led seminars and web-based delivery.
The modules which make up a programme of study are assessed using a variety of different methods, enabling students to demonstrate their capabilities in a range of ways. Typical coursework assignments include laboratory reports, essays, literature reviews, short tests, short and sharply focused critical reports, poster sessions and oral presentations. Formal examinations include short answer questions, essays and data analysis. Multiple choice formats are also employed where appropriate. Students are supported in the production of final year project reports and dissertations. Details of the assessment methods for individual modules can be accessed via the university's online module catalogue. In addition to these learning and teaching methods we encourage independent study, meaning you take responsibility for your own learning. For more information visit our Teaching Approach page.
Assessment Methods
We offer you a variety of stimulating and effective approaches to teaching, learning and assessment. This enables you and your tutors to explore the very latest thinking within your subject and develops your skills in problem solving, analysis and critical reflection, communication, application of knowledge and modern technologies.
As a University, we commit to providing all our undergraduates with a minimum number of contact hours per week, providing you with timely feedback on your work and a maximum number of 15 students per seminar group.
Fees
Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting in the October of your year of study.
Our Undergraduate Tuition Fees for 2020/21 are:
| UK/EU | Overseas |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £18,700 |
Tuition fees for programmes are set annually for all new and continuing students. If you are studying on a course of more than one year's duration, the fees for subsequent years of your programme are likely to increase each year. Such increases are normally calculated based on increases in the costs incurred by the institution, or in relation to UK government regulations which set the maximum fee for certain categories of student.
For the majority of undergraduate students, the most recent annual increase was 2.8%. Any change in fee rates will be communicated to students and applicants prior to the start of the academic year in question, and normally at least eight months prior to enrolment. Further details can be found in our Terms and Conditions.
Channel Islands and the Isle of Man
Some science and medicine courses have higher fees for students from the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. You can find more details here: Island Students.
Funding
For full details of the University's financial support packages including eligibility criteria, please visit our fees and funding page
Students also need to consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation it may be necessary to take out subscriptions to professional bodies and to buy business attire for job interviews.